Treatments Harder On Us?

tos

I know the first time I had treatment I was 56, had ACT and rads and came out of it pretty darn good.

The second time I had taxotere x 6, no rads but did add on CHF, MRSA, Bilat Mast, Peripheral Neuropathy, lots of problems that are causing a long recovery for me.

 Anyone else having a hard time picking up the pieces with lingering side effects.

 I wonder as we age if having chemotherapy does get harder on us and of course we have the other health issues that start creeping in.  Would this cause it to be harder to shake some of this stuff?

crazy4carrots

Galnok:  I've always heard that chemo is often harder on younger women.  I wonder if you're finding it harder this time around because of taxotere.  It's a highly potent drug with lingering side effects -- especially peripheral neuropathy.  My last tx was July 08 at age 59 and, even though I've been faithfully taking L-Glutamine, I still have a bit of numbness in my hands and feet.  Others have mentioned worse lingering se's. 

And speaking of picking up the pieces -- just wish I would stop dropping things! 

Warmest wishes on feeling much better SOON!

Linda

Brenda_R

Boy, I don't know. I had A/C and it was very hard on me. I was extremely sick. Never puked thanks to Zofran, but always felt queezy. Had mouth sores, thrush, heartburn, and by the end, roids. I couldn't sleep and everything tasted horrible. I went from the bed to the bathroom and back to bed. I had fatigue so bad I could hardly walk from room to room at times.

Everytime I read about someone running 4 miles a day and working full time while doing chemo, I wanted to smack someone! Lol. My only thought was "they must be younger". Chemo also left me with neuropathy in the legs and feet, but that had subsided. I also did Herceptin which I think was the cause of a lot of bone and muscle pain I was having. 

I will never take A/C again. I'm pretty sure I got my lifetime dosage. I even asked the onc at my last treatment if I could have less. I made through it, but it hasn't been that long yet that I don't vividly recall what it was like. 

tos

Oh absolutely I thought Taxotere was horrible.  And on top of it I kept going into the hospital with neutropenia, this was in 07, the night of my Neulasta shot, had CHF and MRSA diagnosed while in the hospital so spent alot of time in the hospital in 07, my year from h*ll.

With the Taxotere and the other things piled on top I probably will not ever pull out of that year.   My doc seems to think the Peripheral Neuropathy is here to stay.

So you have heard that Taxotere is harder on the younger ones?  It always to me anyway seems like it is the younger ones who are on Taxotere out running like Brenda mentioned or hiking, climbing mountains and I was the one piled like a heap on top of my bed, walk down the hall? Forget it!

Oh well I do know we all respond differently.  Thanks ladies.  Found your comments interesting.

ravdeb

I've noticed that the younger women seem to return to the way they were before chemo a lot faster than the older women.

I was deathly ill from AC (literally..was hospitalized for a month) but I honestly dont think it was because of my age. It just was... I was 51.

Brenda_R

galnok, I'm glad to know I'm not the only that felt so bad on chemo.

ravdeb, happy to see you around. You are one those that helped me when I first came here and was so lost and sick. I'm forever greatfull. Thanks.

Maire67

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Burkiworks

I suffer from peripheral neuropathy too and it's miserable. I finished up taxol (actually, I think it was Taxotere), but have to check it out.

I just posted an invitation to form a thread for members who are on Femara.

Have a good sleep tonight, friends.

Joanne B., Roseville, CA